FROM THREE SIDES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25394, 27 November 1943, Page 5

FROM THREE SIDES

SATEIRERC UNDER PRESSURE EARLY FALL PREDICTED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 26. Satelberg, where the Japanese have fought tenaciously to retain their last foothold on the Huon Peninsula, is under pressure from three sides by Australian troops, who are only a few hundred yards from the township. A few miles away on the coast the Australians have repulsed several sharp counter-attacks near the mouth of the Song River. In one such action the Japanese lost 20 killed. It was just north of the Song River that the Australians recently cut an important enemy supply trail leading from the coast to Satelberg. Allied aircraft assisting to disrupt Japanese communications on Wednesday almost wiped out the enemy-occupied village r f Kalasa, near Sio. Sio, north of Finschhafen, is an important Japanese barge base, and has probably been a staging point for stores for the Satelberg garrison. War correspondents in the area expect the early fall of Satelberg. During the past few days the retreating Japanese have left behind a number of messages to the Australians. These are being eagerly sought by souvenir hunters. One boastfully optimistic message read: “ Good-bye, friends, we will see you in Australia.

If you do not know it, those behind you know that our forces are stronger than yours.” The fall of Satelberg will mean the end of organised Japanese resistance on the Huon Peninsula. Finschhafen, which was captured from the Japanese on October 2, was the starting point for the present Australian offensive. Enemy forces there retreated to Satelberg, where they had prepared strong defensive positions after the fall of Finschhafen. Later in the month they made a vain and costly attempt io break through to the coast again.